Fuchsia plant named ‘Kiewidiv’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant named ‘Kiewidiv’, characterized by its numerous red and white bi-colored flowers; upright plant habit; and freely branching growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsiaplant, botanically known as Fuchsia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Kiewidiv’.

The new Fuchsia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Venhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new Fuchsia cultivars with compact planthabit and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Fuchsia originated from a cross made by the Inventor of twoproprietary selections of Fuchsia×hybrida, not patented. The cultivar‘Kiewidiv’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Venhuizen, The Netherlands. Plants of the new Fuchsia differ fromplants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Fuchsia by terminal cuttings taken atVenhuizen, The Netherlands, since 1997 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Fuchsia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Kiewidiv’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kiewidiv’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kiewidiv’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous red and white bi-colored flowers.

2. Upright plant habit.

3. Freely branching growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Fuchsia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Fuchsia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical potted plant of ‘Kiewidiv’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown during the spring in Venhuizen, The Netherlands,in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, thefollowing measurements were recorded: day temperatures ranging from 18to 20° C.; night temperatures ranging from 15 to 18° C.; and lightlevels about 40,000 lux. Rooted cuttings were planted in 12.5-cmcontainers and were pinched about 2 to 3 weeks later. The botanicaldescription was taken about 60 to 80 days after planting.

Botanical classification: Fuchsia×hybrida cultivar ‘Kiewidiv’.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of Fuchsia×hybrida, notpatented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Fuchsia×hybrida, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 21 to 28 days at 18 to 21° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous and freely-branching.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and uniform plant habit, relatively compact, and freelybranching, bushy. Freely flowering. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cmcontainers. Rapid growth rate.

Plant height at flowering.—About 20 to 25 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 22.5 cm.

Branching habit.—Freely branching; typically 10 to 15 lateral branchesdevelop per plant. Pinching (removal of terminal apex) enhances lateralbranch development.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 10 to 15 cm. Internode length:About 2 to 3 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:Smooth, pubescent. Color: Close to 59A to 59B.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Length: About 3 to 5 cm. Width: About 1.5 to 1.75 cm. Shape: Ovate,elongate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth,glabrous. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Color: Young and mature foliage,upper surface: 146A. Young and mature foliage, lower surface: 146C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single bi-colored axillary flowers. Freelyflowering; potentially one or two flowers per every axil. Floweringrecurrent. Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—April through October in northern Europe.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about 2 to 3 days on the plant.

Flower orientation.—Initially upright, to pendulous.

Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.

Flower height.—About 4.5 cm.

Flower buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 8 to 12 mm.Color: 45A.

Petals.—Quantity: Four, overlapping. Length: About 2.5 to 3 cm. Width:About 8 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture:Glabrous, smooth and velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened,upper surface: 155D, with red, close to 45A, veins. When opening andfully opened, lower surface: 155D, with red, close to 45A, veins.

Sepals.—Quantity: Four, fused at base. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About6 mm. Aspect: Incurved to flat. Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth, velvety. Color: When openingand fully opened, upper surface: 45A. When opening and fully opened,lower surface: 45A to 45B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Aspect: Arching. Strength:Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: Greenish pink.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight per flower. Stamenlength: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Darkpink. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Light yellow. Pistils:Pistil number: One per flower. Style length: About 5 to 5.5 cm. Stylecolor: Pink. Stigma shape: Ovate, elongated. Stigma color: Dark pink.Ovary color: Light green.

Fruit.—Type: Berry. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color:Light purple.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have not been observed tobe resistant to pathogens common to Fuchsias.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have been observed totolerate low temperatures of 10° C. and high temperatures of 30° C.

Garden performance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have been observed toperform well in the garden and are tolerant to rain and wind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant named‘Kiewidiv’, as illustrated and